Washington County, OH – The announcer calls for the racers to take their marks. You make your way to your lane and get into the ready position. You can smell the heat from the rubber as the sun bounces off its dark surface, and you hear the starter pistol explode. You dig your cleats into the artificial ground and begin to sprint with all of your might…

For some students in Washington County it’s all about finishing the race, but for others, taking their position at the starting line is an accomplishment in itself. Thanks to Marietta Community Foundation, a local student now has that opportunity.

Through the Foundation’s Washington County Hardship & Disaster Relief Program, thanks to the Jim Christy Fund For Kids, a local high school student is now able to participate in this year’s Track & Field season.

After seeing one of their students might miss out on an extracurricular activity due to their family’s financial constraints, a local school representative reached out to the Foundation to see if they could help. The representative requested funding to purchase track cleats for the student so they could participate on the school’s team.

In addition to the cleats, the representative also requested funding to help this student rent a tuxedo for their high school prom. According to the school representative, this student is “a caring young man” who is well-deserving of the Foundation’s support.

“The Foundation wants every student in Washington County to have the same opportunity as their peers,” said Heather Allender, President & CEO of the Foundation. “We don’t want something like not being able to pay for equipment to stand in the way of a student missing out on an important experience.”

The Hardship Program is a combination of several funds, managed by the Foundation, that focus on assisting local citizens in times of need. One of these funds is the Jim Christy Fund For Kids, which is where the funding for this request came from.

“Our donors place funds in our care because they want to make a difference in our community,” said Heather Allender. “Our Hardship Program makes these resources more accessible to those who need them the most… which ultimately accomplish our donors’ goals.”

Through the Hardship Program, citizens of Washington County can apply for a variety of needs related to financial hardships, including extra-curricular activities, emergency needs, funeral expenses, or a variety of others. A full listing can be found on their website.

“The great thing about the Foundation is our versatility,” said Allender. “We can help with major situations that negatively impact our community and we can turn around and help pay for a kid to run track, who wouldn’t be able to otherwise. We are difference makers on every level of need facing our county.”

The Foundation has partnered with Caring Connection, a local nonprofit organization that helps low-income residents in Washington County, to assist with the verification process. Before funds are approved, all requests are carefully reviewed and verified before being disbursed.

Marietta Community Foundation works to improve Washington County through grants and initiatives. If you would like to support the Foundation in its efforts to better Washington County, please contact Heather Allender at 740-373-3286 or heather@mcfohio.org.